She pushed her defenceless partner to the ground before hitting her over the head with the concrete swan

A woman who killed her lover using an ornamental garden swan was today jailed for at least 13 years.

Tracey Ashfield, 43, attacked partner Wendy Thorpe after a reconciliation meal in the back garden turned into a row.

She pushed the defenceless 42-year-old to the ground before hitting her over the head with the concrete swan.

Ashfield then sat in the garden with her lover's body before hiding her remains under planks of wood and carrier bags.

She then fled their house in Wolverhampton - but handed herself into cops the following day.

A judge heard the couple had been arguing throughout the day before deciding to have a reconciliation meal.

But the argument broke out again - before turning to tragic violence.

Ashfield pleaded guilty to murder and was jailed for life today.

West Midlands Police

Victim: Wendy Thorpe had been having a reconciliatory meal

She will serve at least 13 years behind bars before being eligible for parole.

The Crown Prosecution Service said the evidence showed that Ms Thorpe was repeatedly struck about the head and upper body.

Hayley Firman, head of the West Midlands Crown Prosecution Service's Public Protection Unit, said the killing followed a heated argument over money.

The senior prosecutor added: "Realising that Ms Thorpe was not breathing, rather than calling the emergency services for assistance, Ashfield dragged the body to the bottom of the garden and covered it with a blanket, an old settee cushion and garden rubbish.

"The following day, she wrote a confessional note, drove away from the property and later telephoned the police telling them what she had done."